An independent sports shop in Cardiff that has been trading for 50 years is set to close its doors later this year – but owners insist they want it to be a celebration.

Cardiff Sportsgear, on Whitchurch Road, will mark their 50th year in business in September after the shop was originally opened in 1966 by Neil Jordan – known as The Captain – and his late wife Patricia.

But the same month will also see the family business close its doors as a sports shop for the last time.

Manager Andrew, son of founder Neil, 85, and Andrew’s wife Sian have decided to call it a day after years of competition.

Despite battling recessions they admitted the power of the internet had become too much to compete with in recent years and have decided to shut up shop after their 50th anniversary.

They cited the popularity of online shopping as well as suppliers selling directly, high business rates, and a lack of parking facilities in the area for customers as some of the reasons behind their decision.

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After opening in 1966 the retailer soon grew into one of the largest independent sports shops in South Wales.

The family say they were the only shop in South Wales to stock Subbuteo when it was first released, have supplied snooker tables up and down the country during the 1980s, and the shop has welcomed the likes of Sir Tom Jones, when he came in one evening to buy snooker cues, the Calzaghe boxing family, Stella actress Ruth Jones, the late Stuart Cable, Manic Street Preachers, and rugby aces Mike Phillips and Gavin Henson.

On Sir Tom Jones’ visit, Sian said: “His entourage came in and had a look and in he came just as they were closing.”

Andrew’s father Neil, who originally opened the shop in the 1960s, is sad to see it go after only stepping back from the business 10 years ago when he was 75.

Marketing manager Sian, 45, said: “It has been difficult but he does realise it now. We are proud of the achievement.”

Manager Andrew, 48, said: “Cardiff Sportsgear was the only supplier of Subbuteo when it was first released.

“Customers queued around the block waiting for the delivery lorries to turn up with the stock and the local Subbuteo leagues would post their scores on the shop doors weekly.”

After Andrew and Sian married in 2000 and started a family in 2002 Sian started to work at the business and introduced a bigger online aspect to the firm.

In the weeks leading up to the start of Euro 2016 a box of retro Wales shirts from the 1980s were discovered in the shop’s stock room.

Marketing manager Sian said: “My father-in-law, Neil ‘The Captain’ Jordan, opened the shop in 1966 and he’s notorious for being a bit of a hoarder.

“Unfortunately they were youth sizes because if they were adult sizes they’d be queueing round the block.”

The closure of the shop will see some more retro stock going on the racks and a closing-down sale where everything must go by September.